Bureaucracy 'constipating' NT intervention

It has been more than three years since the Howard government started its intervention in the NT.

Ian Waldie, file photo: Getty Images

A former member of the Northern Territory intervention taskforce says the group should be restored to get the intervention back on track.

Ophthalmologist Dr Bill Glasson was one of six members of an emergency committee brought together to manage the first stage of the intervention in 73 remote NT communities.

But since it was disbanded, there have been reports of large increases in the number of public servants employed by the Commonwealth and the Northern Territory governments to oversee the intervention.

Dr Glasson says the built-up bureaucracy is "constipating" any progress on the ground.

It has been more than three years since the Howard government started its intervention in the Northern Territory.

Dr Glasson was there at the start as part of an emergency taskforce to make sure new services were being rolled out properly.

"We had a committee that really looked at all the elements of the intervention from health, education, workforce, employment," he said.

"And we really achieved a lot, I believe, in the first 12 months, as well as a lot of consultation because there was a lot of uncertainty around this intervention, particularly how it would impact on Indigenous children," he said.

The taskforce was disbanded in 2008 and Dr Glasson says it was the start of a period of inertia.

"We promised them a lot. We went out there and we met with them. We told them that we would deliver on a whole range of issues around health and education, and housing and job opportunities etcetera," Dr Glasson said.

"And I think a lot of the people are sitting out there saying,'well, listen, we're waiting for it to come'.

"Now, there have been in the last six months - particularly in terms of housing - there has been significant movement in terms of renovating houses out there, building, starting new houses. But we promised them we'd build about 5,000 houses, and I think we've built about 80 so far."

Red tape

Dr Glasson says there are too many public servants employed by the Commonwealth and Northern Territory governments, which has resulted in more red tape.

He says more money should be spent on sending service teams to remote communities.

"I'd describe it as frightening," he said.

"My analogy is that you become constipated and nothing moves, because the elements can't work together.

"You get silos developing between the different departments, so to speak, and what they should be ensuring is to make sure that there are more people on the ground as far as being out in those communities, as far as teachers, doctors, health workers, Indigenous health workers, etcetera, people building houses, really making a difference on the ground.

"And I'd like to see far more money put into those who actually deliver the services, rather than necessarily those who actually supposedly organise the services."

He argues he is not criticising the heads of the intervention, but is disappointed the process is taking so long.

"Look, I feel frustrated," he said.

'I mean, I feel ashamed to see the Aboriginal people of Australia in the position they're in, particularly our children.

'I want to see those Indigenous children have the same future as my child, and I'm frustrated by the fact that we are doing a lot of talking; we're having lots of meetings.

"We are slowly delivering, but the reality is I don't think that pace of change is quick enough to make a difference for the vast majority of young Indigenous children that sit out in the Northern Territory at the moment."

The Federal Minister responsible for the intervention, Jenny Macklin, was not available for interview.